[InkedApparel]

I have a customer who wants me to print on 100% poly mesh jerseys....I have never printed on this material before and I have a few questions.

1. when printing how do you keep the ink from going thru the holes and getting onto the platen then onto the next shirt?

2. do I need waterbased ink or will a poly plastisol ink work?

any and all tips or suggetions are always appreciated.

Inked

 

[macmiller]

Depending how big the holes are determines what to do. I print a lot of hockey jerseys. The mesh on those is small enough to just print as normal. Since it's usually about 20 or so pieces, you only have a little buildup on the pallet.

More open mesh needs more attention. Some people put a piece of transfer paper on the pallet, print as normal, flash and then peel out the paper from inside the shirt. That will leave the mesh holes pretty clean. I've used old vellum positives in the same way and works just fine.

Don't use w/b. Dark poly shirts need a low bleed poly. Light colors use reg plastisol.

 

[InkedApparel]

ok ...I will try the transfer paper tip.....

Inked

 

[TYGERON]

I've used newspaper (a bit of spray tack/newspaper/spray tack). But for me, taping the platens with clear packing tape and wiping down as needed (maybe 3 or 4 go arounds depending on size of mesh) has been the most efficient. And yes a poly ink particularly on darks, tight screen, thicker stencil etc.
Polys on Whites and lights also because the cure temperature is generally lower lessening the likelihood of ruining the garment like lighter weight mini mesh.

 

[mustangFWL]

Sorry to open this thread again, but I have a question on this topic.

When Mac said people put a piece of transfer paper in between the fabric and the pallet, do you replace the paper every few jerseys, or is it just a "call" when to replace the paper. And I am also assuming you can just send the transfer through a dryer and reuse the paper?

 

[sports44]

We use regular copy paper on the platens. Spray tack down and change every jersey.

 

[mustangFWL]

Sense I made that post.. I found the best way is as Darrell stated, put a scrap piece of paper on the pallet and spray tack it down and replace every jersey.. makes for a quick and easy print job..

 

[chuckh]

We've done the newspaper and copy paper route. Problem is that they would rip and not always come off w/o making a mess. We use capillary film and save the backing sheets. We use this when printing mesh jerseys instead of paper...never tears...comes off clean. Seems to me that covering the platen w/ packing tape and wiping off excess would work but is too time consuming.

 

[recklessahoy]

I stack up a bunch of pallet peel pieces on the pallet, and just peel them off after every print. You can also wipe down and flash cure between each print, but I find the pallet tape stacking method is the way to go!